STATEHOUSE (April 10, 2013) – The full Senate today approved a measure sponsored by State Sen. Brent Steele (R-Bedford) to reform Indiana’s criminal code for the first time in more than 35 years.

House Bill 1006 would change Indiana’s four classes of felonies (Classes A-D) into six classes (Classes 1-6), allowing the state to set more proportional and consistent penalties for crimes. It would also change the credit time system, requiring offenders to serve at least 75 percent of their sentence, instead of 50 percent as under current law.

“The changes in this bill are aimed at creating a more uniform structure for sentencing criminals,” Steele said. “Since our criminal penalties were last reformed in the 70s, state leaders have made countless piecemeal changes to the system. HB 1006 is about bringing the whole system back into balance.”

Steele said today’s legislation is a result of 3 years of work on behalf of the Criminal Code Evaluation Commission (CCEC), which included legislators, prosecutors, defense attorneys, members of the judiciary and representation from the Department of Correction.

HB 1006 passed the full Senate today by a 46-4 vote. The bill now returns to the House of Representatives for final legislative action. If enacted, the bill’s revisions would become effective on July 1, 2014, giving law enforcement and corrections officials one year to prepare for implementation of the changes.

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